of milwaukee



Nov.v 9 1926,

` G. R. RADLEY ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT OR SYSTEM Filed Augus?I 4, 1920 Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,605,043Y Parent onirica.

GUY R. RADLEY, OF MILWAUKEE, WSCGNSIN, ASSIGNR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. CO., OF MILVJ'AUKEE, WISCONSIN', A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT OR SYSTEM.

Application filed August 4, 1920.

lThis invention relates to isolated electric generating plants or systems, and more particularly to control means therefor.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide an isolated plant for supplying electro-motive forces up to 110 volts, a generator driven by an internal combustion engine being employed to supply current for all loads and a motor supplied byv a. relatively low votage battery being empoyed for cranking the engine. lVhile suchsystems possess obvious advantages over those limited to lower voltages or requiring batteries having a large number of cells, nevertheless, the character of the control heretofore provided has tended to subject certain of the parts to unwarranted strains and other unfavorable working conditions.

The present invention has among its ob jects that of providing an improved and simplified controller for obviating the fore going disadvantages in plants of the general character' aforedescribed.

Another object is that of providing for.

' the aforedescribed and similar plants a control system wherein provision is made for starting the plant from any one of several non-adjacent stations and thereafterstopping the plant at will from any of said stations.

Various other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

According to the present invention it is proposed to provide an engine driven generator to supply electrical energy at suitable voltage to the load lines and to provide an additional dynamo electric machine for cranking the engine, said machine moreover to be driven by the engine, for charging said battery. The various control instrumentalities are co-ordinated to provide for energization of the dynamo electric machine to crank the engine upon closure of any of a number of conveniently located hand control switches, stopping of the engine being effected through movement of any one of said switches to a different circuit closing position. Also provision `is made for starting of the engine without load upon the generator and for automatically connecting the latter to the load circuit upon attainment of a given terminal voltage less than its normal voltage.

4In the accompanying drawing', Figure l, illustrates schematically and rlagrarnmatf Serial No. 401,223.

cally a preferred embodiment of the invention; while, Fig. 2 similarly illustrates a slightly modied embodiment thereof'.V

In the drawing is illustrated a generator l to be driven by an internal combustion engine 2 for supplying a load circuitf indicated by lines L1, L2. A dynamo electric machine to be supplied from a relatively low voltage battery t is adapted to provide for cranking the engine and also to be driven thereby for recharging said battery. An electro-responsive starting switch 5 serves to control the energizing circuit of said dynamo electric machine and also the ignition circuit of the engine, whereby said switch provides both for starting and stopping of the engine. An electro-responsive running or load switch 6 serves under given voltage conditions of the generator to connect the latter to the load circuit, the energizing circuit of the switch 5 being maintained following closure of the switch 6 by current from the generator but through a suitable resistance 7.

Both the generator 1 and the dynamo electric machine 3 are provided with series and shunt fields, lthe elds of the former being` arranged to` assist one another whereas the fields of the latter are so connected as to assist one another during operation of the machine as a, motor and to oppose one another so long as said machine is driven by the engine and hence acting as a generator. v Such opposition of fields insures that the aforedescribed charging of the battery 4t by said machine is effected at a relatively slow rate whereby danger of overcharging the battery is obviated.

The energizing circuit of the starting switch 5 is controllable by any one of a. plurality of manual control switches 8, 8 each -Y of said switches being preferably of singlepole double-throw normally open construction and adapted to close but a single set of its co-operating contacts at one time, the second set of connections in each of said switches being preferably arranged to effect short-circuiting of the engine ignition for stopping of the latter. i

The various parts being in the relative position illustrated, movement of any one of the manual controlA switches 8 to the left serves to complete the energizing circuit of the starting switch 5, said circuit extending from the left hand terminal of the battery consacrer e t'l'arcuglf., winding et l ill , illustrated permanently connected, r

i ply the load4 circuit. vAlso closure ot t Y complete a maintaininej` circuit 'for the s i serves to reduce the Voltage ot such circuit to a sate ydalu'e, said lcircuit entendim-gfy :troni the tield'throj-.igh said load switc starting?r switch has closed.n the manual control i elect energy to the load circuit Wh the Adynamo electric machine 3 is battery by conductor 9 to and through Vthe main contactsA of said starting switch 5 thence through the series lield and armature .of said dynamo electric machine and by conductors lvandl lto the opposite terminal of. the battery. Closure ot theupper contacts of the starting switch also serves to Complete the ,shunt lield circuit ot the dynamo1electric machine and also to complete'tlie l,engineignition Vcirc-uit both oit said sets of Y"connections beingyobvious.

,Uponstarting ofthe engine the genera toi" '1; begins to build `up voltage across its tei-minals and as soon as such voltage reaches a predetermined yalue preferably about onchalt` the normalgenerator voltage the coil ofload Switch 6 becomes energized sutliciently toy eiiect closure of said switch, the voltage. connections otsaid coil across vcraterbeingcbyious. Closure ot said load switch serves to 4connect. the right hand terminal ot thegenerator with line L2, the onpositeterminal of the generator len L1. whereby thegenerator new acts l s sa'o ac Wider l cs u )er conticts of il lo l s t i se i o fe tu ing switch 5 through reiist-ance "l which right hand terminal of the generator series h thence by com duc-tori l5 through. said `i tance 7" y conductors 16 and l0 throught-he Winding' ci the switch thence by c l. ictor S through the battery to line L1 and thence I- the left hand terminal of the generator. vThe Voltage acgoss this circ howeyer, being ,greatly reduced by the resistance Titlielcurn rent through such circuit produc s no appiecla'ble .effect uponv either the battery or 'the d 'nemo electric machine such current on vthe other hand being calculated me ely to ihold lin the starting switch.

` As soonas the lamps or other translating devices connected across the load circuit are energized, thus indicating;r lthat the loud switch Whi'clrwas actuated'for starting ot' the 5de* Vice may be released and permitted to return to' the neutral position,illustrated T he generator thereafter continues to supply also driy said gentronitlie engine and acts as a generator for charging' the battery. Stopping ot the enine may be ei'iiectcd b y movement oif any one ot the manual control switches 8 to theright, such action serving to short-circuit the tin .r ot the engine ignition whereupon the engine ceases tiring, thus stopping the generator l and tlie dynamo electric machine 3 where upon the starting and load switches become deeuergized and return automatically to open position illustrated.

'fhe 'toregoir constuction and arrangei nient thus proif'ide .tor remote control of the plantV by means ot the manual control switches S, the aforedescribed circuit connes tions providing for starting of the plant by means ot any one oi said switches and for subsequent stopping of the plant by operation of thesaine switch or lany other of such manual control switches, thus obviating the necessity ot stoppingfthe device by actuation ot the saine switch which was` sed for stai ting.

Also the alioi'edescribed action ot the load switch 6 'hereby rthe saine is adapted to connect the ,ej ne 'eter to the'load lines when the generator Y"oltage rraches a given value les than its normal value providesffor startinn` ot thc engine Without load upo-n'the gcnersterI whereby the operation-otl startingl is'.

greatly facilitated and also provides for connection of the translating device-3` to the o jenerator before the voltage of the later attains its.Y normal value. whereby the initial current taken by such translatiin;` devices' is reduced and a 'further saying in energy otfthe starting motor eiiected. 'Said letter-mentioned feature is loilE special importance Where 'the translating devices coniprise n'ietallie lila-.ment lamps which `when cold are known to transmit many times the yalue et' current which the salue device quires'u-fhen heated to incandesccnce.

The construction illustrated in Figi. is in moet essential respects similar to that atoredescriced, the action et' the generator the engine Zand the dynamo electric ma 'l chine 3 as Well. the acti n of the starting suit-cli and loan switchV 6 being i obit i that atorecescritez'l. in this however, the control ci?. cuits i1-eso d. igilei. arranged as to provide for starting oit' .ie system upon grounding the load line L1 andi r stopping' of the synem upon grouniflingl ot the load linef L2, suchfarangement merely requiring the addition oa stoprey lay' l? which acts tol deenerpgize tlc-e maniH taining circuit of the starting; sir-,itch .t3 upon such grounding' load line L2.

The operation of this*construction.may be hrieliy described as follows. t

hloyeinent of any of the manual control switches 8 to tlin left serves to complete: 'the energizing circuit `ottheV starting switch, saidlcircuit extending from the left terminal lli izo

`ot the battery by conductor 9 through the winding ot' said starting switch thence by conductor 10 through the stop relay 17 to ground, thence to the ground connection ot said manual control switclnby conductor 18 to line L1 and by, conductor 13 to the opposite terminal of the battery. Said switch thereupon closes connecting the dynamo electric machine 3 across the battery and also providing for energization of the shunt field of said machine and of the engine ignition circuit as in the case formerly devh scribed whereas the system thereafter functions precisely as in `the `former instance.

Stopping of the device is effected by moving any olf the manual control `switches 8 to `the right and thereby energizing the opening circuit of the stop relay, said circuit eX- tending from the lett pole of the generator by conductor 13, line L1 and conductorlQ, through the winding ot said relay and thence by conductor 20 to ground, thence through the central ground of such manual control switch and by conductor 21 and line L2 through the load switch and thence to the right pole of the generator'. Said relay thereupon responds interrupting the ener'- gizing circuit of the starting switch which likewise opens an-dinterrupts the engine ignition circuit for effecting stoppingo'f the device, the cranking circuit being also opened. 1

lVhile the particular construction of the manual control switchesserves to prevent simultaneous closure of the starting and stopping circuits from any one station, it is nevertheless possible by accidental or intentional manipulation o t several stations to complete both of said circuits simultaneously and thereby creating a short across `the load circuit, and to prevent damage due to such causeit ispre'terable to include fuses 22 at similar points in the line connections oteach ot said switches.A

The construction shown in Fig. 2 possesses the `advantage over the former construction ot requiring fewer wires since in this construction assuming the use ot grounds it is possible to install a control station across the load circuit at any point reached by the latter. It is also obvious that should it be desired to eliminate grounds, the construction may be modified by the use of a single small control wire connecting t-he various points at presentV illustrated asgrounds, whereby the remote control features areattained by the use of but one wire in addition to the usual load wires.

On the other hand the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 requires two control wires and an additional connection between each manual control switch and line L1, which vconnection may, however, be established through ground .if desired. This construe tion obviates the use of the stop relay 17 required in the construction of Fig. 2.

l/Vhat I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A controller t'or electric generating systems including a load circuit, a generator to supply electrical energy thereto, an internal combustion engine to drive said generator and a starting motor for said engine, comprising a plurality of switches and circuit connections providing for starting said engine by any ot said switches and stopping said engine by any ot said switches independently of the others.

2. A controller for electric generating systems includinga load circuit, a generator to supply electrical energy thereto, an internal combustion engine to drivelsaid generator and a starting motor for said engine, comprising a plurality of switches and circuitconnections providing for starting said motor by any of said switches Vor stopping said engine by any of sai-d switches independently ot the others, said circuit connec'tions including parts of said load circuit.

3. In an electric generating system, the combination with a load circuit and a generator to'supply electrical Aenergy thereto, an

internal combustion engine to drivesaid generator and a motor to be supplied from a battery for cranking said engine, of'a starting switch to connect said motor across said battery and a plurality of control stations comprising switches and circuit connections controllable thereby to provide 'for starting operation of said .starting switch from any one of said stations and to providetor stop ing of the system from any one of said stations independently of the others.

4;. In an electric generating system, the combination with a load circuit and a generator to supply electrical energy thereto, an internal combustion engine'to drive said generator and a motor to be supplied trom-a suitable source for cranking said engine, of a starting switch to connect said motor across said source and ai plurality ot control stations comprising switches and circuit connections controllable thereby to provide for starting operation ot said .starting switch from any one of said stations and to provide for stopping of the system from any one of said stations independently of the others, said circuit connections including portions of said load circuit.

5. A controller for electric generating systems including a load circuit, a generator to supply said circuit, an engine to drive said generator and a starting-motor for said engine, comprising an electro-responsive switch to control said motor for starting said engine, a plurality 'of switches each operable independently of all the others both to control said electro-responsive switch for starting said motor and to stop said engine and an 'automatic 'switch to' disconnect said generatorfrom said load circuit and .torconnectvthe latter to the former butV only during driving of the generator ,by thefengine.

6. A controlleriorelectric generating systems including a load circuit, a generator to supply said circuit, an engine to drive said generator vand a starting motor orsaid engine, comprising an electro-responsive switch vto control said motor for starting said engine, a plurality of 'switches each `operable independently of all the vothers both to control said electro-responsive switch for starting said motor and to stop said engine and anv automatic switch to disconnect said generator from said load circuit and to connect the latter to the former under conditions of materially 'reduced vvoltage of the generator but only during `driving of the generator 'by the engine.

7. A controllerfor electric generating systems including a load circuit, a generator to supply said circuit; anv engine to drive lsaid generator and a starting motor for'said engine', comprising an electro-responsive switch to'control 'said motor for 'starting said engine, andcontrol means for'said electro-responsive switch including a plurality'of voluntary' control switches each movable to disttinctv positions for en'ergization and de-.energi'zation of said electro-responsive switch to start and 'stop the motor 'respectively dur- 'ing de-energization of the load circuit'and vthe same yswitch or any other of said switchesbeing also movable'to' a third position for stopping'ot the engine.

' 8.` A controller for electric generating sysvtems including a load circuit, a generatorto supply said circuit,lan engine to drive said vvgenerator and a'starting motor for said engine, 'comprising an electro-responsive switch ito control said motor for starting said engine, and' control means for said electro-responsive switch 'including a plurality of vol-l 'unta'ry control switches each movable to distinct positions ttor energiz'ation and cle-enerza't'ion of said.electro-responsive switch to vstart and stop the motor respectively during 'de-energization of the load circuit'and the 'same switch or any other of `said switches being also movable to a 'third position for lstopping of the engine, said switches having circuit connectionsfincluding portions of the load circuit whereby the-number of wir-es re quiredy to provide for full remote 'control 'of thesystem is minimized.

9.'A controller'for electric generating systems 'including a 'load circuit, a 'generator -to supply said circuitl an engine to 'drive 'said generatorland a'startingmotor for said engine, comprising in combination, a maximum number of'three electro-responsive contactors, certain of said'contactors 'to control 'the'connection of theload circuit with the -g'nerator, and a .plurality of' voluntary corr trol switches' for other of Isaid contactors, said switches-having similar circuits each including portions ot' the load circuit, Ieach of said switches being operable to provide for starting the motor and any of said switches being thereafter operable independently of the other switches to stop the engine. n

10. vA controller for electric generating systems including a load circuit, a generator to-supply said circuit, an engine to drive said generator and a starting motor for said engine, comprising in combination, a maximum number of two electro-responsive conactors, Acertain of 'said contactors t0 control the connection of the load circuit with the generator, and a plurality of voluntary control switches tor other of said contactors, said switches having similar circuits each including rportions of theload circuit, each of said switches 'being operable to provide for starting the motor and any 'of said switches being thereafter operable tov stop the engine.

ll. A controller Afor electricgenerati-ng systems including a load circuit, a generator to l'supply said circuit, an vengine to drive said generatorand a starting motor for said engine, comprising an electro-re- -sponsive switchto control said motor'or startingsaid engine, a pl'uralityo1 switches each operable independently of all the others to control said electro-'responsive switch for ystarting .said motorv` and for stopping-said engine, andanautomatic-switch to disconnect said generator from said load circuit and to connect the latter to the former butfonly'during driving of the generator' by the engine. y

l2.l A controller for electric 'generating systems'including aload circuit, a generator to supply saidfcircuit, aneiigine to drive said generator and a starting motor for said engine, comprising an electro-responsive switch to'control .said motor for vstarting said engine, a plurality of switches each operable `to control said 'electro-responsive switch for `starting said motor anyone of said switches being thereafter operable independently-ot all `the others to stop saidengine, and an automatic switch to disconnect lil) starting said motor, another electro-responsive switch to disconnect said generator from said load circuit and to connect the latter to the Jformer but only during driving of the generator by the engine, and co-operating means for holding said first mentioned electro-responsive switch in closed position so long as the other electro-responsive switch is in closed position, irrespective of the position of said independently operable switches.

14. In an electric generating system, th

combination with a load circuit, a generator for supplying electrical energy thereto adapted to be disconnected therefrom when idle, an internal combustion engine to drive said generator and a starting motor for said engine, of an electro-responsive switch operable upon attainment of .substantially half the normal voltage of said generatoil to connect the latter to said circuit, and means including a plurality of manually controlled switches operable independently of cach other for eii'ecting starting or stopping of said generator.

15. ln an electric generating system, the combination with a load circuit, a generator for supplying electrical energy thereto adapted to be disconnected therefrom when idle, an internal combustion engine to drive said generator and a starting motor for 'said engine, of an electro-responsive switch operable upon attainment of substantially half the normal voltage o'fsaid generator to connect the latter to said circuit, and means including a plurality of manual control stations each comprising aV double-throw switch biased to an intermediate position and movable in opposite directions for ei lect-ing starting or stopping ,of said generator independently of the other stations.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GUY R. RADLEY. 

